Immersive Virtual Reality for Chronic Neuropathic Pain After Spinal Cord Injury: A Feasibility Trial

Participants rate their experience using the technology on a scale with a total score range of 0 to 10, where 0 means no enjoyment and 10 means very high levels of enjoyment.

Spinal cord independence measure (SCIM III) measures the ability of patients with SCI to perform everyday tasks. SCIM is used for quantitative functional outcome assessment following interventions designed to promote recovery from spinal cord injury and to increase functional achievement; it covers 19 tasks in 16 categories, with a score range 0-100; all activities of daily living, grouped into four areas of function (subscales): Self-Care (scored 0-20), Respiration and Sphincter Management (0-40), Mobility in Room and Toilet (0-10), and Mobility Indoors and Outdoors (0-30). VR neurorehabilitation has shown to improve motor function as well as to reduce neuropathic pain in incomplete SCI patients. The study team is planning to monitor the effects that this IVR protocol has in motor recovery. Total score range for SCIM II is 0 - 100, where a score of 0 defines total dependence and a score of 100 is indicative of complete independence.

Users report the score of both neuropathic and other pain. The total score range is from 0 to 10, lowest score indicating 0, "No pain" and highest score indicating 10, "Pain as bad as it could be". The type of "other" pain will also be recorded (musculoskeletal, etc).

Beck Depression Inventory (BDI): Depression symptoms are estimated to be highly prevalent in SCI population and are associated with a myriad of negative outcomes including lower functional independence, and greater incidence of pain. This questionnaire is a 21-item, self-report rating inventory that measures characteristic attitudes and symptoms of depression. Depression may be a major contributor to a lack of reduction of pain, the study team expects subjects with high BDI score may have worse results after the IVR. Total score range for BDI is 0 - 63; scores from 0 through 9 indicate no or minimal depression; from 10 through 18 indicate mild to moderate depression; from 19 through 29 indicate moderate to severe depression; and from 30 through 63 indicate severe depression.

Self-reported relieving effect: At the end of the treatment (post-intervention), the Patient's Global Impression of Change (PGIC) will evaluate both motor function and pain. The total score range includes no change (score 0-1), minimally improved (score 2-3), much improved (score 4-5), and very much improved (score 6-7) as the highest score. The patients will answer the following question: "Since beginning treatment at this program, how would you describe the change (if any) in activity limitations, symptoms, emotions, and overall quality of life related to your condition?".

Immersive tendencies questionnaire (ITQ): In the field of virtual reality, presence and immersion are standard measures of an individual's sense of engagement and involvement in an activity. The study team expects that high levels of immersion might indicate greater engagement and therefore reduction of the pain. Total score range for ITQ: 18 - 126.

The UQO Presence questionnaire (UQO-PQ): Presence can be a major factor that determines the quality and success of a virtual environment implementation. Several factors such as impression of being present, realness, and discomfort are measured in this questionnaire. The questionnaire has users rank the extent the agree with each question with the total score range of 0 - 100; the lowest score indicating 0 - "Not at all" and the highest score indicating 100- "Totally".

Neuropathic Pain Scale (NPS): This scale was developed to assess both the quantitative and qualitative qualities of neuropathic pain (NP). It includes 11 items, assessing global pain intensity, unpleasantness, and one item which allows the patient to describe the temporal aspects of their pain and its qualities in their own words.The remaining 8 items assess specific NP qualities: "Sharp," "Hot," "Dull," "Cold," "Sensitive," "Itchy," "Deep," and "Surface." This is a sensitive tool for measuring changes in neuropathic pain after a therapeutic intervention. Total score range for NPS is 0 - 100, higher scores indicate more severity.